On a Side Note . . . February 11, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, Thoughts , 6commentsI’m concocting something really, really cool and fun for Friday’s post. You’re going to want to check back first thing Friday morning FOR SURE.
For some of you, it will be an awesome opportunity, and I’m pretty excited about it.
I can be crazy sometimes, and I have one crazy idea, let me tell you. I have a feeling that some of you are going to LOVE me on Friday. :)
Until then, lets love Nads, shall we?
Oh Nads, how I LOVE YOU!
I’m SO HAPPY you come in a facial wand that doesn’t have to be heated in the microwave. It has prevented my upper lip from being scared of you! The pain of each and every little unwanted pesky hair on my upper lip does not mind being yanked out from the roots. My lip has always been scared of your regular formula that has to be heated in the microwave at temperatures that make my skin want to fall off!
Someone brilliant invented you. Maybe it was Nad?
Thank you, Nad, for improving my personal hygiene.
Next . . .
Have you ever heard of five finger shoes
Yeah. Me neither.
David heard abut these shoes the other day at the practice he’s rotating at.
They sound very interesting . . .
And their customers are raving about them.
Any opinions?
I’m totally curious, so maybe I’ll be sporting a pair of these on my blog soon. :)
The Adult “Brain Squeezer” January 4, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, Thoughts , 6commentsSomeone, help me understand . . .
Why is every other adult female head in Utah County sporting one of these?
A knit head wrap? WHAT THE?!
So your ears can stay warm all day? Because fancy ear bands (normally worn skiing, not as hair accessories) are so comfortable to wear all day? Because you like your hair to pouf out on the back of your head? Because your forehead gets cold?
Am I the only who thinks this “head wrap thing” is an adult version of the baby brain squeezer?
(I have never been a fan of baby brain squeezers either.)
Your hair accessory should never enter a room before you do, and it should compliment your outfit, not distract from it.
I’m sure many of us wore scrunchies and silk oversized bows in the 1990’s.
How do you feel about them now?
Don’t you wish someone told you to WALK away from the floppy bows and scrunchies?
Aside from my opinion (that head wraps are just not cute), WHY would someone choose a head wrap over a cute hat?
(Like this! THIS is a cute hat!)
Seriously, WHY?
Start out 2010 right, by NOT succumbing to this fashion trend! You’ll thank me in 10 years!
The Magic Lotion For “Special Bumps” December 30, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, Health, Medical School, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah , 2commentsDo you remember when I talked about the “special bumps” that Hannah I have on our arms? The incurable Keratosis Pilaris stuff?
Well, turns out that there is something that CAN help.
Did you read that? Something CAN HELP!
It’s an over-the-counter lotion found BEHIND the counter at the pharmacy. It’s called AmLactin.
David discovered this miracle lotion while rotating at a dermatologist’s office this month.
Hannah and I started using it about two weeks ago and let me tell you . . . IT WORKS.
No more “special bumps” for us!
Skin Secrets December 11, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, Health, Medical School, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah, Thoughts , 3commentsDermatologists are the most brilliant doctors.
Why you ask?
Because they have normal office hours (not too early, not too late), rarely have patient emergencies (rarely meaning NEVER), and sometimes they take take long weekends.
AWESOME, RIGHT?
To top it off, the office where David is rotating is just minutes down the street (and when I say minutes, I mean like three).
Basically, we’re seeing a lot of David which just so out of the norm for us.
A few days ago, Hannah stopped asking, “Is my daddy going to be here when I wake up?” (It was sort of a novelty to have David back.) And starting asking, “When is my daddy coming home for lunch?”
This rotation has spoiled us and I’m afraid we’ll be in for a shock when he starts another rotation.
So far, I’ve learned a few things about skin:
- There is no known cure for Keratosis Pilaris which Hannah and I both have on our arms. We have a light case, but still, it sucks that nothing cures it.
- Botox injections, while effective, still look fake and David has forbidden me to ever get them. He says he wants to SEE my expressions and not just HEAR them in my voice.
- There is an over the counter product that solves many skin problems, (especially dry skin). It’s called Aquaphor.
This little nugget of info might just save you lots of money. 
Up next? I’m hoping to get some insider information on adult breakouts! What the heck?! I’m not a teenager anymore!
Beautified December 2, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, Daily Life, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah , add a commentDavid is back!
To celebrate, Hannah and I went to the salon.
Our hair needed attention.
BAD.
Hannah loved every second in the beauty salon.
More than one person compared her to Shirley Temple.
That would be 57 times this year that she has been compared to Shirley. (Who, is 81 years old now.)
Now that we’ve been beautified, we can focus on other things, like spending time with David.
Did I mention he’s doing a dermatology rotation right now?
It is fantastic.
Why you ask?
Because dermatologists have fantastic hours, and no one ever has an emergency.
Well, like a REAL emergency. (“I woke up with acne!” is not considered an emergency . . .)
Plus, it will be nice to have a skin expert around. 
Desperate Over Here November 3, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty , 2commentsWear your hair. It’s your most powerful accessory.
- Frederic Fekkai
I don’t “wear my hair.”
I’m in desperate need of a stylist.
DESPERATE.
I’m also looking to do trade with a salon . . .
Any suggestions?
(If you’re interested, please contact me at lesher dot emily @ gmail dot com . Thanks.)
Niagara Falls Sneak Peak September 15, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, New York, Trips , 1 comment so farThis is a little sneak peak of our trip to Niagara Falls this last weekend.
It was AMAZING.
SPECTACULAR.
BREATHTAKING.
I shot this at sunset from the observation tower on the American side of the falls.
I shared the deck with like 500 other excited tourist and their cameras. Thanks to my tripod, people moved out of my way.
This is the Canadian skyline as viewed from the American side of the falls.
It was so beautiful. I love the rich neon colors.
This big spotlight lights up the falls at night. Obviously, the falls are much more amazing to view at night from the Canadian side.
This is upstream from the American falls. It was a raging tempest as the water rushed over the cliff.
I cannot express in words how beautiful Niagara Falls is. Really. It is AMAZING.
I’m still sorting and editing pictures from our trip, but I’ll post them soon.
Can’t take a trip to see Niagara in person? Stay tuned and I’ll take you on a picture journey. You’re going to like it.
David, This Would be a Nice Buy August 24, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, New York, Photography, Thoughts , 2commentsI might be in love with this building.
In fact, I might have a secret desire to buy this building and turn it into the most beautiful house.
I’m just sayin’.
Self Portrait June 26, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty, My Handsome Husband, Parenthood, Photography, Saba , 9commentsI had to shoot a self-portrait for an assignment. This did not make sense to me on many levels. Photographers like to be BEHIND the lens not in front of it! Needless to say, this was a stressful assignment.
These pictures were taken ALL BY MY LONESOME, with no help. Do you know how hard it is to focus the camera when it doesn’t know exactly where to focus? If you move one centimeter in front of or behind where you focused the camera, the image will be all out of whack.
Trust me, I had enough ghetto photos to prove this theory.
What I’m trying to say, is that not only did I shower, shave my legs, give myself a mask, paint my toes, pull this dress out of storage, steam it, put on make-up, and do my hair, but I set up the picture and shot it ALL BY MYSELF.
I did four different concepts for this shoot, and I’m posting images from shoot number four. Trust me, the first three concepts were GAG. In fact, I deleted all but two images from my first three attempts.
What to do, what to create, what story to tell, what image to put across . . .
I asked my husband of 12 years what he thought I should do. What represents me? Who am I? He smiled and said, “Sweetie, if you don’t know who you are, then you have a bigger problem than coming up with an idea for your self-portrait!”
This got me to think. I feel like I’m in limbo between two different worlds. One world I refer to as my “previous life” and one world I refer to as my “current life.”
In my previous life, the one where I had a career, worked hard, and got paid for it, we owned a bridal store. I designed bridal and formal gowns and traveled to Asia several times working with top designers. It was common for me to appear on Good Morning Texas promoting new lines, or modeling formal wear at Dallas Market Hall. I produced and emceed hundreds of fashion shows in several states, and it was usual for me to attend a black tie event weekly.
After several years in this profession, we sold our store, house, and cars, and moved to the Caribbean so David could attend medical school.
Not only did I leave a career I enjoyed, and a home I loved, but we moved out of the country to live on a tiny five square mile island called Saba in the Dutch West Indies. Shortly before moving, I found out I was pregnant with our first child.
My life changed 180 degrees! The Caribbean is the one place in the world that can make anyone “stop and smell the roses”. Having a child on top of that teaches you that you can’t always have a rigid schedule. In a nut shell, I chilled out a LOT.
I’m no longer the fast talking, high paced, results-are-the-only-thing-that-matter woman.
I feel more balanced. I like who I’ve become. I have thoroughly enjoyed motherhood. But there are days I wish I had a plane to catch, some project to oversee, a new design to submit. Or heck, just a really good pay check for working hard at home.
Hopefully this explains my pictures.
I chose to sit on the stairs in my home, in a cocktail dress, (which I had to dig out of storage) with my children’s pictures behind me. I do hope the expression on my face conveys the feeling of being caught in the middle. Trying to find the balance of both worlds that make me who I am.
This second picture was just an extra. I liked it, but there is a little too much negative space.
Don’t expect many more self portraits in the future. This assignment was very stressful to execute and made me age 10 years. You all know how I feel about aging!
Facial Care 101 June 12, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Beauty , 6commentsDid I mention I would post Skin Care 101 last week?
Ahem.
I meant this week. (Obviously.)
First off, I would like to make a disclaimer: I am not an esthetician, professional makeup artist, or scientist. (I’m sorry if this disappoints any of you.) If you are looking for the nitty gritty of WHY our skin does certain things and exactly HOW products work, you’ve come to the WRONG place. If you’re looking to satisfy your inner nerd, check out WebMD and ask them your questions.
However, I started caring about wrinkles at the ripe old age of 16 and dove right into caring for my skin. I have managed a hair salon, participated in more pageants than I can recall, modeled at Dallas Market Hall, produced hundreds of prom fashion shows (this is not an exaggeration) and worked closely with professional makeup artists (and filled in several times as an artist) during photo shoots. I have a passion for skin care and makeup.
I firmly believe that looking good is a choice. Not a privilege.
Now, let’s talk about looking good!
Your makeup will only look as good as the skin it graces. Let’s talk about your skin (in another post I’ll address makeup tips).
Consider your skin as a blank canvas. You need to keep it as healthy and beautiful as possible. The right skin-care ingredients can coax your skin from blemished to smooth, blotchy to clear, and dull to radiant.
But, before you run out to the nearest department store makeup counter and plop down hundreds of dollars on lotions and potions that promise to spring your skin to life, you must determine your skin type.
(test below taken from the book “Getting Gorgeous
To figure out whether it’s normal, dry, oily, or a combination of dry and oily, take this simple test:
Wash And Dry your face and leave it un-moisturized for three hours. Press a single piece of tissue to your face and remove it. Make your diagnosis:
Normal Skin if no oil comes off the paper and your skin doesn’t feel tight or flaky.
Dry Skin if your skin feels dry, tight or flaky and no oil appears on the paper.
Oily Skin if oil comes off your nose, forehead, and cheeks.
Combination Skin if there’s oil on your nose and forehead but not your cheeks.
Sensitive Skin if your skin tends to be tight and blotchy and reacts to new skin-care products by becoming red, inflamed, or itchy.
Remember: Your skin type can change depending on the climate, the season, or your age. You may need to use lighter moisturizers and gel cleansers in the summer and use creamier products in the winter.
Do you know your skin? I didn’t need to take the test to know mine! (BUT TAKE THE TEST ANYWAY! Do as I say, not as I do!)
Before you wash your face, you must wash your dirty little hands. Okay, you might think they’re clean, and maybe they are, but don’t take any chances. You don’t want to introduce new bacteria to your face while your pores are open!
Wash your hands.
Splash your face with warm water. Warm water opens your pores, making washing your face much more effective.
Wash in an upward motion, and outward circles. Your skin will do what you tell it to do, so over the course of 40 years, if you wash your face inward (pushing your cheeks to sag) your face will sag! True story. ( Although, I don’t want to spent the next 40 years trying this to prove this point.)
Wash your skin with your hands only, and be gentle. Please, please, please don’t use a wash cloth! Sometimes, we can get a little overzealous with the soap, thinking that the harder, more vigorous we wash, the more life we’re bringing to our face. Just like brushing our teeth, pressing too hard can be very detrimental. Terry cloths (aka wash cloths) can cause microscopic scars on your face when washing with them! You may pat your face dry with one, but leave it at that.
I use a shammy wash cloth made by Aveda in lieu of a wash cloth. The shammy is antibacterial, and I use it to gently rub off mascara, and wash my face and pat it dry. You can also throw it in the washer and they last about a year. They run about $10. Worth every penny.
After washing, splash your face with a bit of cool water. This will close your pores (don’t want to leave those freshly washed pores open to more bacteria).
You must wash your face twice a day. It’s one of those rules in life. Like you only need to exercise on the days that you eat . . . you only need to wash your face on the days that your face has any contact with the air. (Ever heard of pollution? Yeah, it wreaks havoc on your face! Even though you can’t see it, you need to wash it off.)
It is very important to wash twice daily. At night to wash off your makeup, (or lack thereof which is my case 90% of the time) and in the morning to wash off any facial grease your face has acquired. At night, your body heals itself. I’ve been told, that your cells work to repair themselves while you sleep. (This made sense to me because how many times have you gone to bed with various aches and wake up in the morning feeling great?) It’s difficult for your cells to do their job while they’re covered in foundation, powder, and concealer.
After washing, you must apply moisturizer. MUST. I don’t care if you say you produce enough oil to share with every dry skinned woman west of the Mississippi, you still need it. For those of you with oily skin, don’t call it moisturizer, call it repair cream. We could all use a few repairs here and there, right? Find the right one, and you will have a new lease on life. The skin is very delicate under your eyes, so use your ring finger (which is your weakest finger) to apply cream. Your skin is not the same all over your body (I know, startling, right?) and this is why you don’t use Victoria’s Secret lotion intended for you body on your face. Irritation and breakouts are guaranteed. Use skin moisturizer for your face, and eye cream for your eyes. Try to find a skin cream with 50 SPF. Most creams do, but don’t be the fool to buy the only cream on the market without SPF. You’ll thank yourself in 20 years. (Or sooner!)
Some things I just don’t need to verify to believe. If it makes sense, and a skin care professional told me, I believe. So, the following list may or may not be true, but I have always believed these things and for good reason:
- Everyday you don’t wash your face, it ages three days (I’m sure this is true!)
- Everyday you don’t wash the mascara off your eyelashes, your eyelashes age 10 days. (Um, do any of you doubt this?)
- The best time to tweeze your eyebrows is right after you wash your face. Your pores are open, and the little hairs pull out easily. (Trust me, THIS IS TRUE.)
- You should use a weekly exfoliant. (True, True, True)
- You should give yourself a facial mask once a week, or two to three times a month. (I swear by this. It will liven up your skin, and invigorate your cells!)
Decide today to have great skin!
Next I will post about products and ingredients. What to look for, what to avoid, and when and if you need to splurge on that eye cream.
